Electrolier-bracket.



I. LEVINSON.

ELEGTROLIER BRACKET.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 15, 190B.

922,4;90w Patented May 25, 1909 Mines/Yes fHE NORRIS PETERS C0,, WASHINGTON, D- c.

TINITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

ISAAC LEVINSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEGTROLIER-BRAGKET.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC LEvrNsoN, a citizen of the United States, and residing in New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Electrolier-Brackets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electroliers, chandeliers, etc. in which a number of arms supporting lighting devices spring from a central base member supported from above or below. In such devices the number of arms used depends upon the number of lights to be used, the purpose to which the fixture is applied, considerations of expense, etc. and varies from two to a large number according to circumstances. Two, three, four and five arms are numbers in common use, and it is customary and necessary for manufacturers and dealers to keep in stock fixtures or the constituent parts thereof for these numbers of arms.

In lighting fixtures of ordinary design and construction it is necessary to provide parts of different form for use in connection with the different numbers of arms employed. IVhile the arms need not vary in form, the central base members are usually different for each number of arms, having different numbers of sockets to receive the arms, and it is not practicable to use a base member designed for a given number of arms in connection with a different number, so that a variety of base members must be kept in stock. Furthermore, in case it is desired to change a fixture having a certain number of arms for a fixture with a greater or less number of arms, it is necessary to remove and exchange the entire fixture.

One object of my invention is to produce a lighting fixture of the type hereinbefore referred to, in which the construction is such that the same parts, and particularly the same base member, may be used in building up fixtures with different numbers of arms, the result in each case being symmetrical and complete, so that a single style of base member may be combined with a single style of arm to form fixtures of any of the selected numbers of arms, and so that it may be unnecessary to carry in stock a variety of parts for constructing fixtures of the same pattern.

Another object of my invention is to produce a lighting fixture so constructed that after being installed with a certain number of arms the number of arms may be increased Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 15, 1908.

Patented May 25, 1909.

Serial N0. 443,586.

or diminished without removing or exchanging the fixture as a whole.

In addition to the before-mentioned objects, which pertain to the invention as it is applicable to lighting fixtures in general, it is a further object of the invention, as applied to electric lighting in particular, to provide the fixture with means for facilitating the electrical connections between the main electric wires and the leading-in wires of the several removable arms.

One feature of construction by which the before mentioned objects are accomplished resides in the position, 011 the base member of the sockets in which the light-supporting arms are fixed. These sockets are arranged at or near the top of the base member and are upwardly directed, so that they are concealed from view from below the fixture. Owing to this arrangement it is possible to provide the body member with a number of sockets equal to or greater than the maximum number of arms which may be used, since the empty sockets, being invisible, do not impair the appearance of the fixture. For the same reason no special provision is necessary for closing or covering the empty sockets.

Another novel feature of the invention consists in the arrangement of the sockets. These are arranged about the center of the base member in such order and at such distances that they constitute several groups of different numbers, the sockets in each group being equally spaced apart so that the arms may be symmetrically disposed about the base member, whatever number of arms may be used.

Other features of the invention may be set forth in connection with the description of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, showing the base member in section, of an electrolier embodying the present invention. Fig.2 is a plan view of the electrolier, with the upper portion of the stem removed. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the end of one of the arms. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the manifold electric connecting device, and Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the same.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in an electric lighting fixture comprising a base member and two arms, the base member having provision, however, for 3, l or 5 arms.

The base member comprises a flat ring 1, connected by spokes 2 with a hub 3. A holhub 8 and is provided at its upper end with a ring 5 by which the fixture may be suspended from a hook or a chain in the usual manner. A bell-shaped member 6 is fixed to the stem to enhance the ornamental appearance or the fixture.

The arm-receiving sockets are formed in bosses on the ring 1 and are arranged in a circle about the center of the base member. There are ten sockets, numbered respectively, in Fig. 2 by the reference numbers 7 to 16. These sockets are not all equi-distaiit from each other, but are arranged in a number of groups. The sockets 7 and 12 are exactly opposite each "other, so that they may be used When two arms are to be employed. The sockets 7, 10 and 14 are each 120 from each other "and are used when three arms are employed. The sockets 7, 9, 12 and 1-5 are each 90 from each other and are used when four arms are employed.

The sockets 7, 8, 11, 13 and 1 6 are each 72 from each other and are used when five arms are employed. By using the sockets 7 and 1 2 in common in two or more groups the whole number of sockets necessary is reduced, as fourteen sockets would be necessary if this were not done.

In the drawings two arms, '17 and 18, are shown in place in the sockets 7 and 12. These arms carry electric lam sockets 1'9 are made hollow to receive t e leading-in wires 34. Each arm has a threaded end 20 which "enters the socket the base member from above and is removably secured in place by a nut 21. A collar 22 fixed to the arm rests on top of the socket. The arms extend first upwardly from the sockets and then are bent to extend laterally from the base member. Since the sockets extend vertically it is desirable to provide means for preventing the arms from turning in the sockets, in order that they may be held rigidly in radical position and to assist eo-rrectly and rapidly assembling the fixture. For this purpose each collar 22 is provided with beveled lugs '23 on its lower lace, and these lugs engage grooves 24 in the tops ef the sockets, the lugs and grooves being firml engaged when the nuts '21 are tightened.

Owing to the upwardly directed arrangement of the sockets they are substantially concealed from view from below by the base member, but in order to conceal completely the junctures between the arms and the base member a shield 25 is removably attached to the base member. This shield projects above the sockets and the collars 22, so that they are invisible from any point below the fixture. The shield also has a hemispherical portion 26 which incl'oses the electrical connections below the base member.

The manifold electric connecting device surrounds the hub 3 of the base member. It comprises two rings 28 and 29 of conductive material, which are provided with binding screws 31 by which they are connected with the main Wires 32. The wires 32 are brought into the fixture through the hollow stem 4. The conducting rings are provided also with binding screws 33 for connecting the leadingin wires 84 of the several arms. On each ring there are five of these screws, so that any numberof arms may be connected "electrically up to the greatest number used in the fixture. The rings and 29 areinsulated from each other and from the base member by means of disks 35 of insulating material.

By the use of the manifold electric connector the operation of assembling the fixture with the requisite number of arms, or or changing the number of arms, is greatly facilitated, since it is not necessary to make or break direct connections between the main wires and the wires in the arms.

With a fixture assembled, as in the drawings, with two arms, if it be desired to substitute a greater number of arms, as, for example, three, it is necessary only to disconnect and remove the arm 18 from the socket 12, replace it in the socket 10, add another similar arm in the "socket 14, and make the necessary electric connections with the connecting device 17. The shield 25 is removed from the base member to afford access to the nuts 21 and to the electric wires. Whatever number of arms is used, if the arms be placed in the proper sockets they will be equally spaced and will all be held accurately in rad ical position, and nothing in the appearance of the fixture will indicate that any alteration has been made.

Although certain reatures of my invention are applicable particularly to electric fixtures, the invention in its broader aspects, is applicable to fixtures tor supporting lights or other devices of any character.

The invention is not limited general, to the details of construction, operation or *design of the embodiment herein be tore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but may be embodied in other forms within the nature of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a base comprising two insulated rings connected respectively to the two main wires and having sep-aratadetachable connections with the wires troin the several arms.

'2. A lighting fixture comprising a base member provided with a plurality of sockets for the reception of electric light supporting arms, the sockets being arranged about a center so as to constitute a plurality of 5 groups of different numbers with the sockets equidistant in each group, and a manifold connecting device mounted on the base member and having two insulated rings each ring being provided with means for connecting it with a main electric wire and with wire-conl0 necting devices not less in number than the number of sockets in the largest of said groups.

ISAAC LEVINSON.

Witnesses CLARENCE G. GALsToN, F. B ROY. 

